LOS ANGELES (AP)  Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck has ordered dozens of extra officers deployed to neighborhoods in South LA that have seen a surge in shootings and killings.

The Los Angeles Times reports (http://lat.ms/1vkjq03 ) Beck ordered a modified tactical alert on Tuesday. Officers have been shifted to the department’s Southeast, 77th and Newton divisions after the spate of shootings.

Beck said since last weekend, the LAPD has responded to at least 16 shootings and investigated at least four killings.

The youngest victim was a 13-year-old girl who was struck in the leg by a stray bullet Tuesday morning as she waited at a bus stop.

Despite the recent bump in shootings, officials point out that overall violent crime is down sharply in recent years.